Technology

Ashton Kutcher exits Sound Ventures to launch new VC firm with Morgan Beller

Actor and investor Ashton Kutcher is departing Sound Ventures to co-found a new venture capital firm alongside Morgan Beller. Sound Ventures had established itself through focused, high-conviction investments in leading AI laboratories. Kutcher's new fund is expected to take a different strategic direction, targeting the infrastructure and energy sectors that underpin AI companies. The move signals a shift in Kutcher's investment philosophy from AI labs themselves toward the foundational layers that support them.

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TechnologyArs Technica ·

Sony to end physical PlayStation game production by 2028

Sony has announced it will cease manufacturing physical copies of PlayStation games by 2028, marking a significant shift in its distribution strategy. The move signals a full transition toward digital game distribution for the PlayStation platform. This decision reflects a broader industry trend away from physical media as digital downloads and streaming become dominant. The change will affect consumers who prefer owning tangible copies of games, raising concerns about long-term access and ownership of purchased titles.

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TechnologyTechCrunch ·

Together AI raises $800M, valuation jumps to $8.3B in latest funding round

Together AI, a neocloud provider specializing in hosting open source AI models, has raised $800 million in its latest funding round. The raise has pushed the company's valuation to $8.3 billion. This marks a significant leap from its previous valuation of $3.3 billion, which was set in early 2025. The rapid growth in valuation reflects strong investor confidence in the open source AI infrastructure space.

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TechnologyArs Technica ·

Volvo EX30 Cross Country Will Not Be Available in the US Market

The Volvo EX30 Cross Country, a compact electric vehicle, will not be sold in the United States. US tariffs and anti-China trade policies are the primary reasons behind the decision to keep the model out of the American market. The EX30 is manufactured in China, making it subject to significant import duties that have affected its commercial viability in the US. Despite being well-regarded as a small EV, the trade barriers have effectively blocked American consumers from purchasing it.

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TechnologyTechCrunch ·

Cloudflare gives AI firms until Sept 15 to separate crawlers or face blocks

Cloudflare has issued a deadline of September 15 for AI companies to distinguish between web crawlers used for search indexing and those used for AI training or agents. Publishers using Cloudflare's platform will be able to block AI crawlers by default if companies fail to comply. The move is designed to give content publishers greater control over how their work is used by AI firms. Cloudflare's policy effectively pressures AI companies to negotiate and pay for access to publisher content rather than scraping it freely.

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TechnologyThe Verge ·

Krafton settles with Unknown Worlds, agrees to pay bonuses over Subnautica 2 dispute

Krafton has reached a settlement with its subsidiary Unknown Worlds Entertainment, ending a prolonged legal battle over a $250 million bonus tied to financial milestones. The conflict began when Krafton removed Unknown Worlds' cofounders Charlie Cleveland and Max McGuire, along with CEO Ted Gill, reportedly before the bonus could be paid out. The ousted executives filed a lawsuit, and a judge ordered Gill's reinstatement as CEO in March. Subnautica 2 subsequently launched in early access in May, selling over four million copies within five days. As part of the settlement, Krafton will distribute bonuses to the studio's staff.

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TechnologyThe Verge ·

Microsoft testing disc-to-digital tool to convert physical Xbox games to digital

Microsoft is quietly developing a disc-to-digital feature that would let Xbox owners convert their physical game collections into digital copies. Xbox employees have recently begun internal testing of the feature, which was first hinted at when references to 'enable Disc2Digital' surfaced in Xbox PC app code in May. The tool is expected to support Xbox One and Xbox Series X discs, but will not be compatible with Xbox 360 or original Xbox titles. The development comes as Microsoft is reportedly preparing to follow Sony in winding down production of physical game discs for Xbox consoles.

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TechnologyTechCrunch ·

Honda Begins Manufacturing Batteries for Data Centers, Entering Energy Storage Market

Honda has officially entered the energy storage market by launching production of batteries designed for data centers. The move marks a significant strategic shift for the automaker, which is traditionally associated with vehicle manufacturing. The company began this new production line this week. Rather than targeting consumer driveways, Honda is now directing its battery output toward powering commercial data infrastructure.

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TechnologyArs Technica ·

Final trailer for 'The Odyssey' film teases Odysseus defying divine forces

A new trailer has been released for an upcoming film adaptation of The Odyssey, Homer's classic epic poem. The preview centers on Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, as he challenges and defies the gods on his long journey home. The trailer features a striking line directed at the divine: 'You gods don't speak in ways we understand.' The footage suggests the film will emphasize the tension between human agency and godly power that defines the original story. No specific release date was mentioned in the coverage.

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TechnologyTechCrunch ·

Humble Robotics enters autonomous freight race as AV investment hype resurges

The autonomous vehicle industry is experiencing a resurgence reminiscent of the 2016 investment boom, with fresh capital and talent competition heating up the sector. Humble Robotics is among the new entrants targeting the freight segment of the market. Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick has also re-entered the space by building a new robotics company. Many of the entrepreneurs and engineers driving this new wave are veterans of the first AV hype cycle. The renewed momentum suggests the industry is regrouping with more experienced leadership than before.

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TechnologyArs Technica ·

Anthropic's Advanced AI Models Clear Safety Review, Now Available Globally

The United States has lifted restrictions on Anthropic's advanced AI models, known as Fable and Mythos, allowing them to be released globally. The move follows a safety testing process that was reportedly prompted after concerns were raised with the Trump administration. Anthropic had to undergo the review before its most capable models could be made available to international users. The global release marks a significant expansion for Anthropic, which had previously faced curbs limiting the reach of its most advanced AI systems.

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TechnologyThe Verge ·

Kobo Libra Colour e-reader drops back to $229.99 at Best Buy, Target, and Kobo

The Kobo Libra Colour, recently repriced at $259.99, is currently available for its original $229.99 price at Best Buy, Target, and Rakuten Kobo. The device features a seven-inch color display, waterproofing, adjustable warm lighting, and 32GB of storage. Unlike Amazon's comparable Kindle Colorsoft, the Libra Colour includes physical page-turn buttons, broad EPUB file format support, and compatibility with the optional Stylus 2 for handwritten annotations. It also integrates with Instapaper, allowing users to save web articles for offline reading. At $229.99, the Kobo Libra Colour undercuts the Kindle Colorsoft by $20 while offering several additional features.

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TechnologyArs Technica ·

Boeing Starliner Certification Could Slip to 2027, a Decade Behind Schedule

NASA's inspector general has suggested that Boeing's Starliner spacecraft may not receive full certification until 2027. This would place the program approximately ten years behind Boeing's original planned timeline. The delay reflects the ongoing technical and operational challenges that have plagued the Starliner development effort. The findings come from an official NASA oversight body, raising further concerns about the program's progress and reliability.

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TechnologyTechCrunch ·

Lime Raises $167M in IPO to Address $1 Billion in Liabilities

Lime, the scooter and bike-share company, has completed an IPO raising $167 million. The nine-year-old firm had been signaling a public market debut for several years before finally following through. The company stated that the funds are needed to help reduce its approximately $1 billion in outstanding liabilities. The listing marks a significant financial milestone for one of the most recognized names in shared micromobility.

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TechnologyThe Verge ·

Comcast spinoff forces Peacock to prove its standalone streaming value

Comcast has announced plans to separate NBCUniversal, Peacock, and Sky from its broadband and wireless operations. The split means Peacock will no longer benefit from the financial support of a combined company that generated over $123 billion in revenue last year. Since its 2020 launch, Peacock was closely tied to Xfinity subscriptions, often offered as a bundled perk. In 2023, Comcast removed the free tier and ended Xfinity bundling, signaling confidence that the service could attract paying subscribers on its own. The upcoming separation will be a critical test of whether Peacock can compete independently in the crowded streaming market.

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TechnologyArs Technica ·

Mystery Surrounds Fate of NASA Viking Lander's Robotic Arm 50 Years On

NASA's Viking landers, which touched down on Mars in 1976, were equipped with robotic arms designed to collect soil samples for scientific analysis. As the 50th anniversary of the mission approaches, historians and space enthusiasts are questioning what became of the physical hardware used in the program. The Viking robotic arm played a crucial role in one of humanity's first attempts to search for signs of life on another planet. Despite the mission's historical significance, the whereabouts of certain components, including the arm, remain unclear or undocumented. The mystery highlights broader challenges in preserving space exploration artifacts for future generations.

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TechnologyThe Verge ·

Dbrand Killswitch 2 Is Top Nintendo Switch 2 Case, Now Discounted

Dbrand's Killswitch 2 has emerged as a leading protective case for the Nintendo Switch 2, praised for its build quality and versatility across handheld and docked modes. The case snaps around the console's back and edges and includes Joy-Con slip covers designed for improved ergonomics. The Travel bundle, which adds a screen-protecting cover with cartridge storage and stick grips, is currently discounted to $69.99 on Dbrand's site and $71.99 at Best Buy, down from the usual $80. A built-in USB-C dock adapter allows users to connect the console to a TV, though the solution is noted as slightly bulky for those seeking a clean entertainment setup.

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TechnologyThe Verge ·

Sony to End Physical PS5 Discs by 2028, Also Closing PS3 and Vita Stores

Sony has announced it will stop producing physical PlayStation discs starting January 2028, making all new PS5 game purchases digital-only going forward. The company also revealed plans to wind down digital storefronts for the PlayStation 3 and PS Vita consoles. The dual announcements raise serious concerns among gaming preservation advocates, as discontinued stores mean older titles could become permanently inaccessible. Critics argue the moves highlight a core risk of an all-digital gaming future, where access to games depends entirely on the continued operation of corporate platforms.

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TechnologyTechCrunch ·

Venice AI hits unicorn status with $65M Series A, posts $70M run-rate revenue

Venice AI has raised $65 million in a Series A funding round, pushing its valuation to unicorn status above $1 billion. The privacy-focused AI platform is already profitable, according to CEO Erik Voorhees. The company has achieved annualized run-rate revenues exceeding $70 million, signaling strong early commercial traction. Venice AI distinguishes itself by prioritizing user privacy as a core feature of its platform. The funding round marks a significant milestone as privacy-first AI solutions gain growing interest among users and investors.

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TechnologyTechCrunch ·

Google's Gemini Spark Agentic Assistant Launches on Mac with New Features

Google has expanded its Gemini Spark agentic assistant to Mac users, broadening the platform's availability beyond its previous reach. The AI-powered assistant is designed to operate around the clock, functioning as a continuous autonomous helper for users. The Mac release is accompanied by several enhancements, including real-time tracking capabilities. Support for a wider range of applications has also been added as part of this update.

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